First things first, you should have your budget pretty much set in stone. This will help you with the groundwork of creating your guest list, by having an idea of how many guests you will be able to hold at your venue, how many guests you will be able to accommodate within your budget, and to still have some wiggle-room in your day… You have totally got this handled!

Before you grab that notepad to start writing, have a sit down with any and all parties who are contributing to the cost of your big day. If you’re paying for your own wedding, you can do whatever you would like! If parents, family, and friends are providing aid you need to be sure there is a clear understanding of who will be coming.

It is often expected that parents invite their close circle of friends, who may or may not be on your guest list already. We don’t want anyone to have their feelings hurt, and we don’t want any surprise guests! Talk it out, it’s a win-win!

Create your dream list. See where that will put you in terms of guest count and how it will impact your budget. Now taking what you have discovered, you can either smash your list or keep it just like it is and viola, you’re all set!

Now, if you need some help cutting down the list… Take these tips into consideration… If they aren’t relatives and you haven’t spoken to them since that one time at the grocery store, don’t worry about inviting them. A little wishy-washy on having younger civilians at your event? Don’t invite them! Only see them at the grocery store? Don’t do it. Haven’t seen them since you were five when they lived by your Nana’s? Don’t even go there.

As conscious adults we like to overthink situations, always seeing the alternative, but part of wedding planning is making big decisions.

Another tactic that can be used is when you send out your response cards, have the names already printed so that one invitation doesn’t lead to ten guests. Avoid those last minute straggler invitations, and don’t let your cousin’s boyfriend’s mother crash in on your event because she was invited via text message two hours before the wedding.

If you can handle keeping your guest list organized and strategic, you have this wedding planning thing down! If you’d like a little more help with your planning, contact Fairy Godmother and let us handle it for you!